February 28, 2020 | POSTED IN

The Suffering Bast..d

a photo of the suffering bastard cocktail in an old fashioned glass with sprig of mint on the bar

I always thought that gin, which I had, and bourbon, which I had, don’t marry. But I stuck some gin and bourbon into the vase, and looked about for something to take the curse off.

Joe Scialom, 1953

The Suffering Bast..d was a hangover cure concocted by Joe Scialom* at the Shepheard’s Hotel in Cairo in 1942. The drink proved popular with the British officers and press corp stationed in Cairo during the second world war. We’re not sure why it is considered a ‘cure,’ but it sure offers relief after a strenuous day.

Ingredients

  • 1 oz Sidewinder Dry Gin
  • 1 oz Sidewinder Straight Bourbon
  • ¼ oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 dash Angostura Bitters
  • Chilled ginger beer to top

Directions

Add all ingredients except ginger beer to an ice-filled mixing tin and shake. Pour into an old-fashioned glass and stir in ginger beer. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

*Joe Scialom went on to achieve fame as a bartender for Conrad Hilton, for whom he created a wealth of drinks for the hotel chain. The Suffering Bast..d remains one of his most popular creations.